Shielding for a gas turbine engine component

ABSTRACT

One embodiment of the present application includes a hot section component of a gas turbine engine having a covering. The covering includes a protrusion and is attached to the hot section component though a flexible retainer. In one form the covering is made from ceramic matrix composite. The flexible retainer has a closed position and an open position. The retainer secures the protrusion to the hot section component when it engages part of the protrusion when in the closed position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication 61/203,982, filed Dec. 31, 2008, and is incorporated hereinby reference.

GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

The present application was made with the United States governmentsupport under Contract No. N00421-01-C-0069, awarded by the UnitedStates Navy. The United States government has certain rights in thepresent application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to gas turbine enginecomponents, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to shieldingcomponents in a hot section of a gas turbine engine.

BACKGROUND

Increasing the efficiency and performance of gas turbine engines remainsan area of interest. Some existing systems have various shortcomingsrelative to certain applications. Accordingly, there remains a need forfurther contributions in this area of technology.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the present invention is a unique shielding for a gasturbine engine component. Other embodiments include apparatuses,systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for shielding gasturbine engine components. Further embodiments, forms, features,aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shallbecome apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a gas turbine engine.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a component of a gas turbine engine.

FIG. 3 is cross sectional view of one embodiment of a shielding and gasturbine engine component.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a shielding havingattachment members.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of a shielding.

FIG. 6 is a view of one embodiment of a coupler.

FIG. 7 is a partial view of one embodiment of a component.

FIG. 8 a is a view of one embodiment of a coupler and coupling member.

FIG. 8 b is a view of one embodiment of a coupler and coupling member.

FIG. 8 c is a view of one embodiment of a coupler and coupling member.

FIG. 9 a is a view of one embodiment of a coupler and coupling member.

FIG. 9 b is a view of one embodiment of a coupler and coupling member.

FIG. 9 c is a view of one embodiment of a coupler and coupling member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modificationsin the described embodiments, and any further applications of theprinciples of the invention as described herein are contemplated aswould normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates.

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a gas turbine engine 50, which includesa compressor 52, a combustor 54, and a turbine 56. Airflow entering thegas turbine engine 50 is compressed by the compressor 52 before beingmixed with fuel and burned in the combustor 54 to create combustor flow.The turbine 56 extracts energy from the combustor flow to drive thecompressor 52 and other devices. A hot section 58 of the gas turbineengine 50 includes the combustor 54 and the turbine 56 which can beoperated at relatively elevated temperatures. Among other componentsdisposed within the gas turbine engine 50, the turbine 56 includes aseries of vanes and rotatable blades.

The gas turbine engine 50 can take any variety of forms such as, but notlimited to, turbofans, turboprops, and turboshafts. In some embodiments,the gas turbine engine 50 can be used as an aircraft powerplant. As usedherein, the term “aircraft” includes, but is not limited to,helicopters, airplanes, unmanned space vehicles, fixed wing vehicles,variable wing vehicles, rotary wing vehicles, unmanned combat aerialvehicles, tailless aircraft, hover crafts, and other airborne and/orextraterrestrial (spacecraft) vehicles. Further, the present inventionsare contemplated for utilization in other applications that may not becoupled with an aircraft such as, for example, industrial applications,power generation, pumping sets, naval propulsion, weapon systems,security systems, perimeter defense/security systems, and the like knownto one of ordinary skill in the art.

Turning now to FIG. 2, one example of a hot section component is shownin a perspective view. A turbine vane 60 is depicted having a shielding62 and a turbine vane spar 64. The shielding 62 is placed between aportion of the turbine vane spar 64 and the relatively hot combustorflow from the combustor 54 (shown in FIG. 1) and can provide aprotective overlayer from the relatively elevated temperatures, amongother possible uses. The shielding 62 can be made from a variety ofmaterials/compositions including ceramic matrix composite (CMC)materials, alumino-silicates, and non-metallic materials, to set forthjust a few non-limiting examples. The turbine vanes 60 can be used inupstream or downstream turbine stage locations within the turbine 56(shown in FIG. 1). Various other components of the gas turbine engine 50(shown in FIG. 1), including hot section components other than thatdepicted in FIG. 2, can also be protected by the shielding 62. Forexample, hot section components such as, but not limited to, combustors,bladetracks, turbine blades, and turbine frame supports, and anyportions, assemblies, or parts, thereof, can also be protected using thedevices and methods disclosed in the present application.

The shielding 62 is depicted as completely surrounding the shape of theturbine vane spar 64 in the embodiment of FIG. 2, but in otherembodiments the shielding 62 can take on other shapes that do notcompletely surround the component. The shielding 62 can be shaped tocover only a portion of the component, and furthermore, can be shaped tointeract with other shieldings 62 used to protect the component. To setforth just one non-limiting example, two adjoining shieldings 62 cancover two different sections of the component such as a suction side anda pressure side of a turbine vane. Some components can include anynumber of shieldings 62, some of which can include curved shapes, andsome of which may be flat. In those embodiments including more than oneshielding 62, the shieldings can overlap or can be arranged having a gapbetween the shieldings 62.

The shielding 62 is attached to the turbine vane spar 64 using aplurality of attachment members that will be described further below.

Turning now to FIG. 3, an embodiment is disclosed of the shielding 62attached to a component 66. The shielding 62 has a hot side 65 and acold side 67. In those embodiments where the component 66 is a hotsection component, the hot side 65 is the side exposed to a combustorflow stream. The shielding 62 is coupled to the component 66 through anattachment member 68 and a retainer 70 captured within the component 66.The attachment member 68 includes a head 72 and a stem 74 that areconfigured to interact with the retainer 70. Many different shapes andsizes of the head 72 and the stem 74 are contemplated herein, some ofwhich are described immediately below and other of which are illustratedand described further regarding FIG. 4.

The head 72 of the attachment member 68 is used to be engaged with theretainer 70 and includes a tip 76, a base 78, and lateral edges 80. Thetip 76 is formed as an acute tip in the illustrative form, but othershapes are also contemplated herein. To set forth just a fewnon-limiting examples, the tip 76 can be rounded, spherical, conical,faceted, or chamfered, among others. The surface formed between the tip76 and the lateral edges 80 can also take on a variety of forms, whetherflat, curved, faceted, or otherwise. In some applications the head 72can be nonsymmetrical. To set forth just one non-limiting example, onehalf of the head 72 shown in FIG. 3 can be removed to leave a headhaving a form similar to a fish-hook. Other non-symmetric forms are alsocontemplated herein.

The base 78 is depicted as relatively flat, but can take on differentshapes in other embodiments. To set forth one non-limiting example, thebase 78 can have a surface form complementary to a surface form in theretainer 70. In another example, the base 78 can be angled relative tothe stem 74, where the angle is either acute or obtuse to the stem 74.Some portions of the base 78 can have different shapes or forms. Forexample, one side of the base 78 can be curved and the other side flat.While both the base 78 and the retainer 70 in the illustrativeembodiment have relatively flat surfaces, in some embodiments thesurfaces can be a wave-like pattern or may be splined, to set forth justa few non-limiting examples.

In general, the head 72 will have a size in one dimension larger thanthe stem 74. For example, the lateral edges 80 in the illustrativeembodiment are larger than the width W of the stem 74. The difference insize enables the lateral edges 80 to discourage the attachment member 68from being decoupled from the retainer 70. In some embodiments thelateral edges 80 may be of a size and shape such that the attachmentmember 68 cannot be decoupled from the retainer 70 without causingdamage, while in other embodiments the lateral edges 80 can be decoupledwithout damage. At some locations the lateral edges 80 may be the samesize or smaller than a dimension of the stem 74. For example, theembodiment shown in FIG. 4 on the left hand side depicts the facetedattachment member 68 a having the lateral edges 80 the same width of thestem 74 a in at least one direction.

The stem 74 extends from the shielding 62 to the head 72. The stem 74can have any height H from the shielding 62 and any width W. The heightH can be the same or different size of the width W. In some embodiments,the stem 74 can be integrally formed with the shielding 62, in otherembodiments the stem 74 can be a unitary member with the shielding 62,and in still other embodiments the stem 74 may be attached to theshielding 62. In one non-limiting example, the stem 74 can be a CMCbraided tube that is integrated into a weave of the CMC shielding 62.The stem 74 can be rectangular, circular, conical, or any other shape.Furthermore, the stem 74 can vary in size and shape from the shielding62 to the head 72. To set forth just one non-limiting example, the stem74 can have a mid-section between the shielding 62 and the base 78 thatis a different shape and/or a different size than other portions of thestem 74. Although the stem is depicted as extending at a right anglerelative to the shielding 62, in other embodiments the stem can extendat any angle.

The retainer 70 is a device used to flexibly allow insertion of theattachment member 68 into the component 66. In some embodiments theretainer 70 can take the form of a split washer, a split ring, a snapring, or a circlip, among other possible variations, and can be madefrom a variety of materials. In one non-limiting embodiment the retainer70 is metallic. After the head 72 of the attachment member 68 isinserted through the retainer 70, the retainer 70 is closed therebysecuring the attachment member 68 within the component 66. The retainer70 can close on the stem 74 or can close and allow a gap between an edgeof the retainer 70 and the stem 74 as is shown by a dashed line 84. Whenclosed, the retainer 70 may grip the entire periphery of the stem 74 ormay grip only a portion of it. In some forms the retainer 70 may have abarb or other type of protrusion that can be used to grip and/or anchorthe retainer 70 to a receiving structure of the stem 74 or head 72. Sucha receiving structure can take the form of a pocket or depression, toset forth just two non-limiting examples. The retainer 70 can be madewith a relatively tight circular clearance hole, a relatively loosecircular clearance hole, and may be made with slots in differentdirections which allow for the shielding 62 to be installed so that itis not overconstrained when the shielding 62 expands under thermal load.The retainer 70 can be made in a variety of sizes.

The retainer 70 can take forms other than a circular or semi-circularshape. In one non-limiting example, the retainer 70 can be composed ofmultiple, individual components that act in concert to allow insertionof the attachment member 68 into the component 66. For example, theretainer 70 can take the form of two linear springs that are installedin the component 66 on opposite sides of the attachment member 68. Asthe head 72 of the attachment member 68 is inserted, each of therespective linear springs will deform into a pocket 82 of the component66 which captures the retainer 70. In another non-limiting example, theretainer 70 can take the form of one linear spring.

The pocket 82 can be machined, molded, or cast into the component 66,among other possible types of formation techniques. The pocket 82 can bemade in a variety of sizes and shapes. Some shapes can be the same asthe shapes of the retainer 70. The pocket 82 can allow for movement ofthe attachment member 68 and the retainer 70 in one or more directions.For example, the pocket 82 can be an elongated slot allowing formovement of the attachment member 68 in the direction of the slot. Otherpockets can be relatively small such that enough room is provided fordeflection of the flexible retainer 70, but minimal additional room isprovided for movement of the attachment member 68. The relative sizingof the pocket 82 can allow the retainer 70 to bear against the component66 when the shielding 62 is displaced under load, or may allow theattachment member 68 to bear against the component 66 when the shielding62 is displaced. For example, if the pocket 82 has a greater depth thanthe size of the retainer 70, the attachment member 68 may engage aninner surface of the component 66 before the retainer 70 reaches the endof its permissible travel.

A seal 86 can be used between the shielding 62 and the component 66. Theseal 86 can be made of a material which allows it to be compressed and,as a result, to provide a resistant force so that the shielding 62 isurged away from the component 66 when the seal 86 is compressed. In onenon-limiting example, the seal 86 can be made from a ceramic rope whichmay encircle the base of the stem 74. The present application furthercontemplates that the seal 86 is functioning as a compressible memberand does not have to provide a complete seal for a working fluid.

Turning now to FIG. 4, the shielding 62 is shown having two differentattachment members 68 a and 68 b projecting from the cold side 67 of theshielding 62. In other embodiments, the shielding 62 can include anynumber of other attachment members 68. Some embodiments of the shielding62 can include a plurality of identical attachment members in shape andsize. Other embodiments can include a plurality of attachment membershaving the same shape but different sizes. No limitation is intendedherein regarding the numbers, types, sizes, shapes, or locations of theattachment members. The attachment member 68 a includes a head 72 a anda stem 74 a with a faceted outer surface. The attachment member 68 bincludes a conical head 72 b and a cylindrical stem 74 b. Many othercombinations of head shapes and stem shapes are also possible and arecontemplated herein.

The shielding 62 depicted in FIG. 4 has a relatively thin thicknesscompared to its other dimensions. Though the total length and totalwidth of the shielding 62 are not depicted in FIG. 4, it will beunderstood that the shielding 62 has a thickness smaller than either itswidth or length.

Turning now to FIG. 5, one embodiment of the shielding 62 is shown thatincludes the attachment member 68 having a different configuration thanthe attachment member 68 discussed above and shown in FIG. 3. Theattachment member 68 shown in FIG. 5 includes an extension 87 protrudingfrom the cold side 67 which is coupled to a separable head 72 via afastener 88. In one form the extension 87 is coupled to the separablehead 72 with a press fit. The shielding 62 can be a CMC material and theseparable head 72 can be metallic. The head 72 includes a shank 90 whichis adapted to receive the extension 87. In some embodiment, theextension 87 may include an aperture within which the shank 90 isreceived. A retainer can be used to couple to the extension 87, theshank 90, or both.

The fastener 88 can be a cylindrical or rectangular pin that is insertedthrough the head 72 and the extension 87 as is depicted in FIG. 5. Thefastener 88 can take different geometric forms in other embodiments. Insome applications the fastener 88 may only partially extend into thehead 72 and the extension 87. Other arrangements are also contemplatedherein. The fastener 88 can be flush with the side of the shank 90, itcan be countersunk into the shank 90, and it can also extend past thesurface of the shank 90 as depicted in FIG. 5. The fastener 88 can alsohave a different appearance on either side of the shank 90. To set forthone non-limiting example, one side of the shank 90 may have the fastener88 extending out a given distance while the other side can have thefastener 88 flush with the surface of the shank 90.

The shank 90 of the head 72 can overlap the extension 87 by anydistance. In some embodiments, the shank 90 can extend all the way downto the cold side 67. In addition, the extension 87 can extend up intothe head 72 to any distance, including just below the base 78 of thehead 72 and also up into a region above the base 78.

Turning now to FIG. 6, another embodiment of the present applicationprovides for a fastening device that includes a coupler 92 having thehead 72, stem 74, and a foundation 94. The head 72 includes a base 78larger than the stem 74 in one direction, but other embodiments caninclude a head 72 larger than the base 78 in more than one direction.

FIG. 7 depicts the component 66 having a passage 96 large enough toreceive the head 72 of the coupler 92 depicted in FIG. 6. In theillustrative form the passage 96 is rectangular in shape, but thepassage 96 can take on different forms in other embodiments.

FIGS. 8 a, 8 b, 8 c, 9 a, 9 b, and 9 c depict an embodiment of thecoupler 92 engaged with a coupling member 98 to further form a fasteningdevice. The fastening device is used to couple the heat shielding 62(not shown, but in one non-limiting form could be located between thecomponent 66 and the foundation 94 of the coupler 92) to the component66. The coupling member 98 is engaged with the coupler 92 as can be seenin FIGS. 8 a and 9 a. In some forms, however, the coupling member 98 canbe integrally formed or attached to the coupler 92. The foundation 94 isreceived in an engagement portion 100 of the coupling member 98. Thehead 72 of the coupler 92 is inserted through the passage 96 formed inthe component 66. Once the head 72 is inserted through the passage 96,the coupler 92 is turned to the orientation seen in FIGS. 9 a and 9 bsuch that the head 72 is in an orientation that it resists beingwithdrawn through the passage 96. The coupler 92 can be turned such thatthe foundation 94 slips within the engagement portion 100 of thecoupling member 98, but in some forms the coupling member 98 can rotatewith the coupler 92. In some embodiments a positive locking mechanismcan be used to prevent the coupler 92 from being turned back to theorientation depicted in FIGS. 8 a, 8 b, and 8 c after being rotated tothe orientation depicted in FIGS. 9 a, 9 b, and 9 c. Furthermore, a ringor rope seal or other high temperature elastic material can be used topreload the fastening device.

In one form the present application provides a gas turbine engine hotsection cladding having a plurality of protrusions operable to couplethe gas turbine engine hot section cladding to a hot section component,the plurality of protrusions having heads extending from stems that arelocated on a cold side of the gas turbine engine hot section cladding,the heads having widths greater than a portion of the respective stems.

One feature of the present application provides wherein the stems areunitary members of the gas turbine engine hot section cladding.

Another feature of the present application provides a plurality ofretainer engagement members operable to be engaged with the heads andlocated between the heads and the cold side, the retainer engagementmembers having open positions and secured positions.

Yet another feature of the present application provides wherein theretainer engagement members are operable to bear against theprotrusions.

Still another feature of the present application provides wherein theretainer engagement members are split rings having inner diameters thatare adjustable for expanding and contracting when engaging with theprotrusions.

Another feature of the present application provides wherein the headsinclude an acute tip for penetrating the inner diameter of the splitring.

Still another feature of the present application provides wherein thegas turbine engine hot section cladding is formed from a ceramic matrixcomposite.

Yet still another feature of the present application provides whereinthe heads are formed from a material different than the material of thestems, and wherein the heads are coupled to the stems.

And still another feature of the present application provides whereinthe heads are formed integral with the stems.

In another form the present application provides a hot section componentof a gas turbine engine, a covering operable to be coupled to the hotsection component and including a protrusion having a head with anengaging surface, and a resilient engagement member operable to becaptured within the hot section component and adapted to receive thehead, the resilient engagement member having a closed position and apassage position, the resilient engagement member is urged from theclosed position to the passage position when the engaging surface of thehead engages and is urged past the resilient engagement member, theresilient engagement member operable to move from the passage positiontoward the closed position when the engaging surface has passed theresilient engaging member.

One feature of the present application provides wherein the coveringcomprises a ceramic matrix composite material.

Another feature of the present application provides a device having acompressed state and an uncompressed state, the device disposed betweenthe covering and the hot section component and providing a tension ofthe protrusion when the device is in the compressed state.

Still another feature of the present application provides wherein thedevice is a ceramic rope.

Yet still another feature of the present application provides whereinthe resilient engagement member is a split washer including an innerdiameter and a projection support edge for retaining the protrusionthereto when the protrusion is inserted through the inner diameter.

Still a further feature of the present application provides wherein theprotrusion includes an enlarged head portion with a portion structuredto bear against the resilient engagement member.

Yet still a further feature of the present application provides whereinthe hot section component and the shielding form an airfoil shape.

In still another form the present application provides a gas turbineengine component, a panel, and means for coupling the panel to the gasturbine engine component.

In yet another form the present application provides inserting aprotrusion of a thermal covering through an opening of a gas turbineengine component, engaging the protrusion with a flexible retainerlocated in the opening, and changing the shape of the flexible retaineras the protrusion is urged toward a fastened position past the flexibleretainer.

Another feature of the present application provides resisting removal ofthe protrusion from the opening of the gas turbine engine.

Yet another feature of the present application provides wherein theresisting further includes engaging a head of the flexible retaineragainst a bearing surface of the flexible retainer.

Yet still another feature of the present application provides impartinga load to the thermal tile in a direction away from the gas turbineengine component.

Still another feature of the present application provides compressing aceramic rope between the thermal tile and the gas turbine enginecomponent.

Another aspect of the present application provides an apparatus,comprising a gas turbine engine hot section cladding coupled with a hotsection component using a plurality of protrusions that extend through aplurality of openings, the plurality of protrusions having headsextending from stems, the heads having widths greater than a portion ofthe respective stems and operable to extend past a periphery of theopenings such that the gas turbine engine hot section cladding isdiscouraged from being decoupled from the hot section component.

Yet another aspect of the present an apparatus, comprising a hot sectioncomponent of a gas turbine engine, a covering operable to be coupled tothe hot section component and including a protrusion having a head withan engaging surface, and a resilient engagement member operable to becaptured within the hot section component and adapted to receive thehead, the resilient engagement member having a closed position and apassage position, the resilient engagement member is urged from theclosed position to the passage position when the engaging surface of thehead engages and is urged past the resilient engagement member, theresilient engagement member operable to move from the passage positiontoward the closed position when the engaging surface has passed theresilient engaging member.

Still another aspect of the present application provides an apparatus,comprising a gas turbine engine member having a substructure and a panelthat protects the substructure from a host gas environment, and a devicefor coupling the panel to the substructure, the device including a stemhaving a movable enlarged portion on a distal end of the stem, themovable enlarged portion shaped to pass a side of an opening formed inthe gas turbine engine member when the substructure and panel arecoupled and moved to an engaged position in which the movable enlargedportion is capable of engaging the side of the opening to discourage thesubstructure and the panel from being decoupled.

Still yet another aspect of the present application provides a method,comprising inserting a plurality of protrusions of a first member of agas turbine engine hot section component through a plurality of openingsformed in a second member of the gas turbine engine hot sectioncomponent, the plurality of protrusions having associated heads,conveying the heads of the plurality of protrusions past a portion ofthe second member defining the plurality of openings, and discouraging adecoupling of the first member from the second member by coupling theheads with a portion of the second member.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be consideredillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly selected embodiments have been shown and described and that allchanges, equivalents, and modifications that come within the scope ofthe inventions described herein or defined by the following claims aredesired to be protected. Any experiments, experimental examples, orexperimental results provided herein are intended to be illustrative ofthe present invention and should not be construed to limit or restrictthe invention scope. Further, any theory, mechanism of operation, proof,or finding stated herein is meant to further enhance understanding ofthe present invention and is not intended to limit the present inventionin any way to such theory, mechanism of operation, proof, or finding. Inreading the claims, words such as “a”, “an”, “at least on”, and “atleast a portion” are not intended to limit the claims to only one itemunless specifically stated to the contrary. Further, when the language“at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used, the claims may includea portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to thecontrary.

1. An apparatus, comprising: a gas turbine engine hot section claddingcoupled with a hot section component using a plurality of protrusionsthat extend through a plurality of openings, the plurality ofprotrusions having heads extending from stems, the heads having widthsgreater than a portion of the respective stems and operable to extendpast a periphery of the openings such that the gas turbine engine hotsection cladding is discouraged from being decoupled from the hotsection component.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stems areunitary members of the gas turbine engine hot section cladding, theprotrusions extending from a cold side of the gas turbine engine hotsection cladding.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, which further includes aplurality of retainer engagement members operable to be engaged with theheads, the retainer engagement members having open positions and securedpositions.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the retainer engagementmembers are split rings having inner diameters that are adjustable forexpanding and contracting when engaging with the heads.
 5. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions include at least someprotrusions capable of being rotated from a decoupled position to acoupled position.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas turbineengine hot section cladding is formed from a ceramic matrix composite.7. The apparatus of claim 1, which further includes a gas turbine enginehaving the hot section component and gas turbine engine hot sectioncladding.
 8. An apparatus, comprising: a hot section component of a gasturbine engine; a covering operable to be coupled to the hot sectioncomponent and including a protrusion having a head with an engagingsurface; and a resilient engagement member operable to be capturedwithin the hot section component and adapted to receive the head, theresilient engagement member having a closed position and a passageposition, the resilient engagement member is urged from the closedposition to the passage position when the engaging surface of the headengages and is urged past the resilient engagement member, the resilientengagement member operable to move from the passage position toward theclosed position when the engaging surface has passed the resilientengaging member.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the coveringcomprises a ceramic matrix composite material.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 8, which further includes a device having a compressed state andan uncompressed state, the device disposed between the covering and thehot section component and providing a tension of the protrusion when thedevice is in the compressed state.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10,wherein the device is a ceramic rope.
 12. The apparatus of claim 8,wherein the resilient engagement member is a split washer including aninner diameter and a projection support edge for retaining theprotrusion thereto when the protrusion is inserted through the innerdiameter.
 13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the protrusion includesan enlarged head portion with a portion structured to bear against theresilient engagement member.
 14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein thehot section component and the shielding form an airfoil shape.
 15. Anapparatus, comprising: a gas turbine engine member having a substructureand a panel that protects the substructure from a host gas environment;and a device for coupling the panel to the substructure, the deviceincluding a stem having a movable enlarged portion on a distal end ofthe stem, the movable enlarged portion shaped to pass a side of anopening formed in the gas turbine engine member when the substructureand panel are coupled and moved to an engaged position in which themovable enlarged portion is capable of engaging the side of the openingto discourage the substructure and the panel from being decoupled. 16.The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the movable enlarge portion iscapable of being rotated to the engaged position.
 17. The apparatus ofclaim 16, wherein the stem and the movable enlarge portion are jointlyrotated to the engaged position.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15, whereinthe movable enlarged portion includes a protrusion laterally offset fromthe stem.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the device includes aplurality of stems having movable enlarged portions.
 20. The apparatusof claim 19, wherein the gas turbine engine includes a plurality ofpanels.
 21. An apparatus, comprising: a gas turbine engine component; apanel; and means for coupling the panel to the gas turbine enginecomponent.
 22. A method, comprising: inserting a plurality ofprotrusions of a first member of a gas turbine engine hot sectioncomponent through a plurality of openings formed in a second member ofthe gas turbine engine hot section component, the plurality ofprotrusions having associated heads; conveying the heads of theplurality of protrusions past a portion of the second member definingthe plurality of openings; and discouraging a decoupling of the firstmember from the second member by coupling the heads with a portion ofthe second member.
 23. The method of claim 22, which further includesengaging the plurality of protrusions with flexible retainers located inthe plurality of openings; and changing the shape of the flexibleretainers as the plurality of protrusions are urged toward a fastenedposition past the flexible retainers.
 24. The method of claim 22, whichfurther includes altering the orientation of at least some of theplurality of protrusions such that heads coupled with the plurality ofprotrusions engage the second member when the first member and secondmember are urged to be decoupled.
 25. The method of claim 24, whereinthe altering includes rotating the at least some of the heads of theplurality of protrusions relative to the second member.